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As we have mentioned in the introductory section of this website, epilepsy is a seizure disorder. The characteristics and frequency of seizures vary greatly. Medical terminology has accordingly broadened in an effort to more precisely identify these different types of seizures. Some are observed predominantly in children, while other types mainly in adults.

Epilepsy is a very serious and often very scary disorder. It can cause a great impact on people with epilepsy as well as those who live around them. One of the first steps to being able to control seizures is to recognise them. It is possible for a person with epilepsy to experience more than one type of seizure. Your physician/neurologist can help provide you with the necessary information.

The following is a brief overview to help you understand the basics of seizures. This is a supplementary guide and should not be a substitute for your own doctor’s advice and information. Links to more information on these and other types of seizures will be provided at the bottom of this page.

Special cells called neurons help to form an electrical and chemical network in the brain. Under normal conditions, electrical signals move along these neurons. They influence the release of different chemicals that further influence the electrical activity of subsequent neurons. Many external and internal influences can cause abnormal activities in the electrical signals of these neurons. A change in the regular brain electrical activity may result in a seizure. Repeated seizure events may be a sign of epilepsy. (Note: while all forms of epilepsy are characterised by some form of seizure disorder, not all seizure disorders are indicative of epilepsy.)

The modern system of seizure classification draws an essential distinction between partial and generalised seizures. If the excessive electrical discharge is restricted to a given (localised) area in the brain, the seizure is termed partial. If the entire brain is involved, the seizure is generalised.

Before we begin with the different types of seizures, we should first understand a few terms. There are many different causes of epileptic seizures. These causes are often termed idiopathic, cryptogenic, and symptomatic.
Idiopathic means that that there is no identifiable cause for the onset of the seizures.
Cryptogenic refers to an unknown cause, however the doctors believe it may be related to some unidentifiable abnormality in a brain structure.
Symptomatic means that there is a known cause for the seizures and this may be related to damage to brain structures, metabolic disorders, or other known causes.